Blow-out preventer



Jan. 18, 1938. J. w. maccLATcl-us Re. 20,631;

BLOW-OUT PREVENTER Original Filed Feb. 8, 1932 INVENTOR. Me

A TTORNEY.

Reissued Jan. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLOW-OUT PREVENTERCalifornia Original 2, 5 ,26 dated August 18, 1936, Se-

rial No. 591,549, February 8, 1932. Application for reissue November 15,1937, Serial No. 174,-

12 Claims.

This invention is a blow-out preventer for well drilling apparatus; andhas for its object to adjust the blow-out preventer which is normallypositioned in the cellar beneath the derrick floor, without requiringthe operator to leave the derrick floor and with said adjustmentpreferably including means for maintaining a tight pack-oh when theblow-out preventer is in operative position and also including means forreleasing its operative assembly when so desired.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to tighten thepacking engagement of the blow-out preventer by means of pressure in thewell casing, so that irrespective of variations in pressure, a tightpack-ofi may be automatically maintained between the blow-out preventerand the drill string which extends into the well casing, withoutrequiring the operator to leave the derrick floor and enter the cellarfor the pur pose of tightening the packing.

It is a further object of the invention to retain the blow-out preventerin assembled relation by a simple but positive locking means which isadapted for remote control for readily releasing the locking means fromthe derrick floor and without requiring the operator to enter thecellar.

It is a still further object of the invention to incorporate theaforementioned features in a blow-out preventer which upon release ofthe locking means is adapted for unitary removal of a packer from acooperating body which is mounted on the well casing, with the removablepacker comprising a swivel structure having a stationary part-adaptedfor reception in the body and a cooperating rotating part adapted toturn with the drill string.

Further objects of the invention will be readily understood from thefollowing description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the blow-out preventer, partly in axialsection.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The blow-out preventer is adapted for moun'ting on the casing string lof a well structure, with the casing adapted to receive a drill stringincluding a usual upwardly projecting and crosssectionally polygonalkelly 2. The kelly is rotated in usual manner from the derrick floor(not shown), and the blow-out preventer is mounted on the casing in theusual cellar beneath the derrick floor.

The blow-out preventer includes a body 3 mounted on the well casing, anda cooperating packer received in the body and engaging the kelly 2 so asto pack-off between the well casing and the kelly. The body 3 may bethreaded onto' casing l as shown at 4, and has a tapering bore forming aseat 5 for the packer, with ports 6 below the tapering seat adapted forcommunication with usual laterally projecting discharge pipes I.

The packer is releasably locked in body 3 and forms a swivel structurecomprising a shell 8 non-rotatably mounted in the body and a cooperatingrotating element 9 which is adapted to turn with kelly 2. Packing isprovided between the kelly'and the rotating element 9, and also betweenthe rotating element and the stationary element 8. The rotating elementis turned with the kelly by means of a driving element Ill; and aflanged collar l I maintains the packer elements 8, 9 and ID inassembled relation so that the packer is removable as a unit from body3, or by removing the flanged collar the rotating elements of the packerare adapted for displacement from the stationary element 8.

As an instance of this arrangement packing rings l2 are preferablymounted in the tapering bore 5 so as to pack-off between the removablepacker and the body 3, and the flanged collar II is threaded onto thestationary element 8 of the packer as shown at l3. The collar ll forms ashoulder I 4 vertically spaced from a cooperating external shoulder ISon the element 8, and looking elements l6 which are radially shiftablewith relation to body 3 are adapted to releasably engage between thecooperating shoulders I4-I5 for locking the packer in the body.

The rotating element 9 of the packer is journaled in the bore of thecooperating stationary element 8; and driving element I0 is preferablydiametrically split as shown at [8 for ready reception on kelly 2, andhas a polygonal bore l9 fitting the kelly 2 and an outer peripheryfitting in the bore of element 9, with said outer periphery of elementIll and the bore of element 9 of conforming non-circular cross-section,e. g. a

splined connection 20, so as to form a rotary,

driving connection between the elements Ill---!. The split drivingelement I!) may be held in assembled relation by an integral collar 2|,and the flange Ha of collar ll overliesthe splined engagement 20 so thatelements 8, 9 and Ill of the packer form a unitary assembly.

Anti-frictional means are preferably provided between the relativelyrotatable elements 89 of the packer. 23 may be mounted in the outerperipheral surface of rotatable element 9, with ball bearings Cir Forthis purpose a roller bearing 24-25 preferably providing end thrustbearings for the rotatable element. The ball bearing 24 is mounted on ashoulder 26 of stationary element 6 and supports the rotatable element9, and the ball bearing is positioned between the flanged collar l l andthe driving connection 20.

The packing elements of the packer preferably include packing rings28-29 between the rotatable element 9 and the kelly 2, a packing ring 30between the rotatable element 9 and the stationary element 8, and apacking ring 3| between the collar H and the driving element ill,

As an instance of this arrangement the packing rings ,28--29 arepreferably superimposed, with the ring 28 having an upper taperingsurface 32 adapted for wedging reception against a cooperating taperingseat 33 which is formed by the driving element I9, and the lower surfaceof packing ring 28 is preferably annularly grooved as shown at 34 forreception of a corresponding tongue 35 at the upper surface of packingring 29. The lower surface of ring 29 is annularly grooved as shown at36, and the cooperating packing rings 28-29 are held in assembledrelation by a collar 3'l which fits between the kelly 2 and therotatable element 9, with ports 38 opening through the collar so thatpressure in well casing I is communicated to the annular groove of thering 29. The grooves 34 and 36 provide the packing 29 and 29 with innerperipheral packing lips having exterior contours conforming to thepolygonal kelly 2 and with outer peripheral packing lips having exteriorcontours conforming to that of the bore of rotating element 9.-

The packing 30 is preferablyan inverted U- packing mounted in an annularrecess 40 which is formed in the outer peripheral surface of element 9below the ball bearing 24, and a gland 4| is threaded onto element 9 soas toretain packing 39' in" place, and is ported as shown at 42 so thatthe pressure in casing I is communicated to the channel of theU-packing. The gland 4| also holds collar 31 in place, but withoutobstructing its ports 39.

It will thus be seen that the packing requires no manual adjustment, butis automatically expanded in accordance with the pressure in the wellcasing so as to maintain a tight seal whatever the casing pressure maybe. For example the casing pressure directed against grooved packingring 29 will laterally expand and also longitudinally shift this ring,thereby correspondingly laterally expanding and longitudinally shiftingthe packing ring 28 so that the latter wedges against its cooperatingseat 33. The rotatable elements 9-H! are thus tightly packed-,- off withrelation to the kelly 2. In similar manner the casing pressure directedagainst the channeled packing 36 will laterally and longitudinallyexpand the same so as to tightly pack-oil? between the rotatable element9 and the stationary element 9. i

The packer 8-9I9 thus tightly packs-ofi the kelly 2, with this packingengagement automatically adjusted so as to maintain a tight seal in'accordance with the casing pressure and irrespective of variations insaid pressure; and the packer is in turn tightly packed-off withrelation to body 3 by the locking elements l6 retaining the packer inwedging engagement with the tapering seat 5. The packing I2 at thistapering seat is preferably grooved as shown at 44, so that any seepageof pressure will automatically expand the packing for insuring a tightseal.

The packing of the blow-out preventer is thus automatically adjustedwithout requiring the operator to leave the derrick floor and enter thecellar in which the blow-outp'reventer is placed, and the lockingelements l6 are preferably also operable from the derrick floor so thatthey may be released for removal of the blow-out preventer withoutrequiring the immediate presence of the operator.

As an instance of this arrangement the locking elements l6 are slidablein radial slots 45 in the body 3, and a ring 46 is rotatable on thebodyfor retracting or projecting the locking elements. A spring 41 normallyrotates the ring in the direction for operatively projecting the lockingelements so that they engage beneath shoulder M of the packer; and aflexible connection 48 extends to the derrick floor and is adapted tooppositely rotate the ring 46 for retracting the locking elements sothat they disengage the shoulder l4 and thus permit removal of thepacker from the body 3. For this purpose pins 49 project upwardly fromthe locking elements l6 and are received in, cam slots 50 intheunderside of ring 46,, with the cam slots so positioned that whenring 46 is rotated by spring 41 in the, direction indicated by arrow Ain Fig. 1, the cam slots shift the pins 49 for operatively projectingthe locking elements, while opposite rotation of ring 46 by a pull uponflexible connection 48 and as indicated by a'rrow B in Fig. 1, shiftsthe pins 49 to the outer ends of cam slots 56 so as to retract thelocking elements I6 from their engagement beneath shoulder l4.

The invention thus provides a blow-out preventer of simple construction,but securely locked in place and providing a tight pack-off, with thelocking means readily releasable from the derrick floor, and the packingelements operatively expanded in accordance with the casing, pressure,and without requiring the presence of the operator for manuallytightening the packing.

I claim:

1. Closure means adapted for mounting in well casing so as to surround adrill stem and including a rotatable element and a driving element, therotatable element having a bore and the driving element being adaptedfor reception in said bore and adapted to turn with the. drill stem, anda splined driving connection between the outer periphery of the drivingelement and the bore of the rotatable element adapted for readyengagement and disengagement merely by relative longitudinal movement ofsaid elements.

2. Closure means adapted for mounting in well casing so as to surround adrill stem and. including a rotatable element and a driving element, therotatable element having a bore and the driving element being adaptedfor reception in said bore and adapted to turn with the drill stem, theouter periphery of the driving element and the bore of the rotatableelement being of conforming noncircular cross-section forming a rotarydriving connection between said elements adapted for engagement anddisengagement byrelative longitudinal movement of said elements, andmeans for locking the assembled elements against relative longitudinaldisplacement.

3. Closure means adapted for mounting in well casing so as to surround adrill stem and including a stationary element, a rotatable element mentby relative longitudinal movement of said elements, and means forlocking said elements relative to the stationary element and againstrelative longitudinal movement.

4. Closure means adapted for mounting in well casing so as to surround adrill stem and inconforming non-circular cross-section forming a rotarydriving connection between said elements adapted for engagement anddisengagement by relative longitudinal movement of said elements.

5. Closure means for'a well casing including, a stationary body arrangedto be mounted on a well casing, a non-rotatable member arranged fordirect vertical movement into and out of said body, packing between thebody and said member arranged to be expanded by pressure, a retractiblelatch mounted on the body and overhanging the member to retain thelatter in said body,

means for retracting said latch to permit free vertical movement of saidmember, a rotatable member confined within the non-rotatable member, anda packing in said rotatable member for engaging and packing off a drillpipe, whereby said members may be bodily raised from and lowered intosaid body by said drill pipe.

6. Closure means for a well casing including, a stationary outer bodyarranged to be mounted on a well casing and provided with a taperingseat, a removable non-rotatable member having its lower end reduced forengaging said seat, said non-rotatable member being arranged forvertical movement into and out of said body, a rotatable memberjournaled in the non-rotatable member and having packing engaging arounda drill pipe and rotating therewith, laterally movable latches slidablein the body member and overhanging the non-rotatable member for latchingthe latter in the body, and means for actuating the latches including aspring, whereby the device may be latched and unlatched from a re-' motepoint and the members inserted in and removed from the body without thenecessity of a workman going below the derrick floor.

7. Closure means for a well casing including, a stationary outer bodyarranged to be mounted on a well casing and provided with a taperingseat, a removable non-rotatable member having its lower end reduced forengaging said seat, said non-rotatable member being arranged forvertical movement into and out of said body, a rotatable memberjournaled in the non-rotatable member and having packing engaging arounda drill pipe and rotating therewith, laterally movable latches slidablein the body member and overhanging the non-rotatable member for latchingthe latter in the body, means for actuating the'latches including aspring, whereby the device may be latched and unlatched from a remotepoint and the members inserted in and removed from the body without thenecessity of a workman going below the derrick floor, andpackinginterposed between the body and the non-rotatable member arranged to beexpanded by the well pressure below the seat.

8. Closure means for a well casing including, a stationary outer bodyarranged to be mounted on a well casing and provided with a taperingseat, a removable non-rotatable member having its lower end reduced forengaging said seat, said non-rotatable member being arranged forvertical movement into and out of said body, a

rotatable member journaled in the non-rotatable member and havingpacking engaging around a drill pipe and rotating therewith, laterallymovable latches slidable in the body member and overhanging thenon-rotatable member'for latching the latter in the body, means operablefrom a remote point for withdrawing said latches to permit thenon-rotatable and rotating members to be lifted bodily from the body.and spring means for moving said latches inwardly to latch said membersin the body.

9. Closure means for a well casing including, a stationary outer bodyarranged to be mounted on a well casing and provided with a taperingseat, a removable non-rotatable member having its lower end reduced forengaging said seat, said non-rotatable member being arranged forvertical movement into and out of said body. a rotatable -memberjournaled in the non-rotatable member and having packing engaging arounda drill pipe androtating therewith, laterally movable latches slidablein the body member and overhanging the non-rotatable member for latchingthe latter in the body, spring means for projecting said latches intolatching position, and means for retracting the latches operable from aremote point, whereby the members may be released and raised from thebody without the necessity of a workman going below the derrick floor.

10., In a drilling head, the combination of a body having a bore andarranged to be mounted on a well casing, a shell arranged for directvertical movement into and out of said body, a rotatable memberjournaled in said shell, packing between the rotatable member and theshell exposed to and expanded by the well pressure below the shell andmember, means in the member for packing off a drill pipe passing throughsaid member, means for imparting rotation from a drill pipe to saidrotatable member, a latch movably mounted on the body for overhangingthe shell, and means operable from a remote point for actuating saidlatch, whereby said shell and member may be lowered into said body andlatched and unlatched and raised vertically from said body without thenecessity of a workman going below the derrick floor.

11. In a drilling head, the combination of a body having a bore andarranged to be mounted on a well casing, a shell arranged for directvertical movement into and out of said body, a rotatable memberjournaled in said shell, packing between the rotatable member and theshell exposed to and expanded by the well pressure be low the shell andmember, means in the member for packing off a drill pipe passing throughsaid member, means for imparting rotation from a drill pipe to saidrotatable member, a latch movably mounted on the body for overhangingthe shell, spring means for projecting said latch into latchingposition, and means for retracting the latch operable from a remotepoint, whereby the members may be released and raised from the bodywithout the necessity of a workman going below the derrick floor,

12. In a drilling head, the combination of a body having a bore andarranged to be mounted on a well casing, a shell arranged for directvertical movement into and out of said body, a rotatable memberjournaled in said shell, packing between the rotatable member and theshell exposed to andexpanded by the well pressure below the shell andmember, means in the member for be lowered into said body and latchedand unpacking off a drill pipe passing through said member, means forimparting rotation from a drill 'pipe to said rotatable member, a latchmovabiy mounted on the body for overhanging the shell, means operablefrom a remote point for actuating said latch, whereby said shell andmember may latched and raised vertically from said body withoutthenecessity of a workman going below the derrick floor, and a packingbetween the body and the shell arranged to be expanded by the wellpressure.

JOHN W. MAcCLA'I'CI-DIE.

